Sihanoukville is located on the cost of Cambodia, half way between Thailand and Vietnam, on the bay of Thailand. It is both a town for foreign tourists and local people from all over Cambodia.

There is a lot of sight seeing because three sides of the town are bordered by tropical beaches, seafood, restaurants, bars, Buddhists temples, casinos which makes it a good place for foreign tourists.

Things to see and do in Sihanoukville

There a lot of activities to see and do which include,
Boating and fishing, due to the availability of many types of boats to rent, personal watercrafts, charter and group fishing and sailing boats, yachts and party boats, has made Sihanoukville a major place to visit in Cambodia to see and do all water sports.

Under water, due to a number of several foreign owned scuba and snorkeling companies found here, has made it the number one spot in Cambodia for all under water activity lovers and followers.

The availability of motor cycles and bicycles for rent everywhere, makes it east to go sight seeing anywhere in Sihanoukville as it is the best way to see the mountains, beaches, down town, bar hopping and you can get all the favorite destinations from “stray dog adventures”.

The place has so much to see and do, I will just outline the other major things to do and see, take a day to visit the waterfalls, visit the many homeless children’s camps or volunteer for a day to work in the camps, play miniature golf, visit ping pong shows, i- balling, take a walk at one of the many beautiful beaches or spend a day at the beach with white sand and blue water or even take a boat trip with family or friends.

With little in the way of shopping havens and very little history to be observed there are two main reasons for coming to Sihanoukville and this is of course the beaches and the Ream National Park. The beaches are nowhere near as crowded as nearby Thailand although there are local visitors at the weekend from Phnom Penn, however, during the week it is still possible to enjoy beach seclusion and island paradises.

Here is a list of a few you will enjoy.

Just a little to the south of the busy port with plenty of accommodation for the budget conscious is Victory Beach.

Known as ‘7-chann beach’ after the Independence Hotel lies the white sands of Independence Beach.

Sokha Beach Resort takes up most of Sokha Beach for it’s resident’s, however a small part is non residential.

By far the most popular beach is Ocheuteal because of it’s restaurants, bars and food stalls. The northern portion is known as Serendipity Beach with cheap guesthouses right on the sands.

If peace and quiet is your main priority travel southwards to Oters Beach which is pretty much untouched by development.

Bamboo Island can be reached for as little as $5 and offers beach hut accommodation in atotally unspoilt island getaway but take plenty of money as prices are higher than in Sihanoukville and there are no banks here.

The other attraction is Ream National Park just 30 minutes drive from Sihanoukville offering a chance to see all manner of beautiful birdlife.

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With little in the way of shopping havens and very little history to be observed there are two main reasons for coming to Sihanoukville and this is of course the beaches and the Ream National Park. The beaches are nowhere near as crowded as nearby Thailand although there are local visitors at the weekend from Phnom Penn, however, during the week it is still possible to enjoy beach seclusion and island paradises.

Here is a list of a few you will enjoy.

Just a little to the south of the busy port with plenty of accommodation for the budget conscious is Victory Beach.

Known as ‘7-chann beach’ after the Independence Hotel lies the white sands of Independence Beach.

Sokha Beach Resort takes up most of Sokha Beach for it’s resident’s, however a small part is non residential.

By far the most popular beach is Ocheuteal because of it’s restaurants, bars and food stalls. The northern portion is known as Serendipity Beach with cheap guesthouses right on the sands.

If peace and quiet is your main priority travel southwards to Oters Beach which is pretty much untouched by development.

Bamboo Island can be reached for as little as $5 and offers beach hut accomadation in atotally unspoilt island getaway but take plenty of money as prices are higher than in Sihanoukville and there are no banks here.

The other attraction is Ream National Park just 30 minutes drive from Sihanoukville offering a chance to see all manner of beautiful birdlife.

Cambodia’s capital city can be challenging for even the seasoned traveler having a very harsh climate and a higher level of crime than other Asian destinations.
That said there is much to see and do here and excellent places to browse amongst its French Colonial streets and ancient temples.

The Royal Temple and Silver Pagoda are a must see as is The Museum of Cambodia containing much Cambodian art, history and culture. Getting around is probably best by bus, car taxi or foot, but as many victims will testify motor cycles can be treacherous in the city’s dangerous traffic.

The temples are nice and include:
Wat Phom which is situated on a hill in a tiny park near Sisowath Quay on St. 94. Although more important nowadays as an historical rather than visual experience the situation in pleasant greenery is lovely and you can always watch the monkeys or take an elephant ride.

Wat Botum is near the Royal Palace and understandably has royal favor. During the 1930’s it was home to Pol Pot then described as a ‘lovely child’.

Not for the faint of heart, but of historical significance, are The Killing Fields. In what was once a Chinese cemetery The Kymer Rouge executed thousands of intellectuals. A documentary film of the carnage is screened daily and you can observe the remains, skulls and mass graves. To get there you can take tuk-tuk which will wait for you whilst you visit this somber and emotional place.

The seaside city of Sihanoukville has a number of different attractions to offer visitors who can bear to tear themselves away from the beach for a while.

Golden Lions Monument
This is one of the city’s main landmarks. This impressive attraction is located in stunning gardens, which are a popular hang out for local teens. It is a great place to sit back and watch the world go by while enjoying a bowl of local noodles.

Kam-pong Pier Nup Lok Fishing Port
This attractions is a must-see if you want to experience local life at its most authentic. The area is particularly colourful and vibrant, bustling with many fishing boats steaming out of the port just before the sunset.

Independence Square
A popular meeting place for friends and acquaintances and houses the Independence Monument (Vimean Ekareach), a small shrine and a park. The square was built in 1985 to honour and commemorate the independence and also the brave soldiers who lost their lives in the war.

St Michael’s Church
Located on the base of Sihanoukville Mountain, this beautiful old church was the centre of local Catholics until 1975 when it became a prison. The church was re-opened in 1993 and has remained active ever since. The world-famous architect, Vann Molyvann, who also designed Independence Monument and the Olympic Stadium in Phnom Penh, designed the church.

Wat Chotynieng
This pretty temple offers views across the town from the top of Sihanoukville Mountain. There are several paintings depicting life of the Buddha as well as the portraits of the founder, Prince Junot, who was the leader of the Buddhist community in the area.

Wat Utynieng
Sitting on a small hill on Santipheap Street overlooking the ocean, this temple contains a unique building dedicated solely to Ya-Mao, a local deity.

Sihanoukville Mountain
Towering over the city, Sihanoukville Mountain offers spectacular views from its peak. It can be reached by following the main road out of Sihanoukville for about two kilometres. The mountain offers excellent exercise for those energetic enough to climb it. If you do decide to climb, you will be rewarded with many fine private viewpoints, which are ideal for watching the sun go down.

Bordered by Vietnam, the eastern region of Cambodia is scattered with picturesque hill tribe villages. This is a good place for hiking and there is plenty of natural beauty to discover such as waterfalls, caves and forests.

Many people head straight to the town of Kratie to watch the Irrawaddy dolphins swimming in the river, while the town of Stung Treng is also a good place to relax for a while.

The mighty Mekong River runs through this region and travelling by boat is a great way to reach many of the area’s towns and cities. Fish is plentiful here and the local market is a great place to find freshly cooked fish dishes.

The region’s proximity to Vietnam means that visitors will discover an interesting blend of Khmer and Vietnamese styles in many of the border towns, which is particularly apparent in the designs of the temples, clothes and food. Spend some time in eastern Cambodia before hopping across the border to discover an entirely different side of life.

Also known as known as Khao Phra Wiharn or Sacred Monastery, Prasat Preah Vihear is one of Cambodia’s most striking monuments from the Angkorian period. This 800 meter temple is situated at an elevation of 730 meters and offers spectacular views across Cambodia to the scared mountain of Phnom Kulen.

Prasat Preah Vihear is an important pilgrimage site and was build to represent Mount Meru where many important deities are believed to reside. Climb the monumental stairway and pause to appreciate the detailed carvings that adorn the temple.

Look out for the Gopura on the third level, which displays an early rendition of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk. The temple sits atop Pey Tadi, which is a rocky cliff in the Dângrêk Mountains on the border between Thailand and Cambodia, providing interesting views into both countries.

Many people take a picnic with them so that they can enjoy the stunning views from the top while they eat. The large market place at the foot of Prasat Preah Vihear is a good place to buy freshly cooked food and snacks.

Prasat Preah Vihear is a great place to visit on the way into Cambodia from Thailand or just before you leave the country. For a really memorable adventure, travel to Prasat Preah Vihear by helicopter from Siem Reap.

The sunset is spectacular from the top of the temple and it is worth sticking around at the end of the day to see it. The nearest town to Prasat Preah Vihear is Kantharalak. Here you will find a number of basic guesthouses, restaurants and pretty places to explore, making this a good place to spend the night.

Khmer Kingdom

Experience the sheer grandeur of one of the World’s Modern Wonders, visit Cambodia’s incredible Angkor complex. These 11th Century temple ruins, covering a vast area and comprising of numerous temples reclaimed by Cambodia’s tropical jungle. It’s just one of the surprises of this plucky country, where it’s sad recent history is very much part of the tourism.

We’ve been travelling to Cambodia for over a decade, recording the rise of its tourism, and present to you a blog, soon to become a full tourist site to help you plan your visit. The country has a surprisingly good tourist infrastructure and plenty to see and do, all recorded here.

From the Royal Palace, Tol Slueng Prison and Killing Fields of Phnom Penh to the beaches of Sihanoukville and tourist bustle of Siem Reap, we have the country covered. And we haven’t even mentioned the friendly locals, good food and amazing Asian landscapes.